Blog

Dear Members,
Our Peace Corps service taught us that free and fair elections have a direct effect on the health and happiness of a nation’s citizens. Furthermore, this health and happiness is dependent upon the willingness of people to unite around common principles in the midst of conflict and discord, then advance as one.

Thank you for helping make Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington such a strong and vibrant community. This year has been particularly outstanding and there is a lot more on the horizon. I’m so proud of everything that you’ve been able to accomplish; here are some highlights.

Choose venues where people can hear each other talk.
Ask older RPCV/W members to become mentors.
Hold weekend events promoting child-friendly activities.
These are just a few of the suggestions brought up in a discussion at the Former Board Outreach Dinner with new RPCV/W Outreach Director Anna Lena Wonnenberg (Kosovo ‘14-15), at her home last Sunday.

Sarah Weber served in Vanuatu as a Community Health Volunteer with the Master's International Program. She led health education and awareness programs in a rural village and served as a Health Management Advisor for the provincial health office in the capital city focused on capacity building and training village health workers.

Yes, the idea has been in the works for several months now and RPCV/W was part of the early planning. It hit the doldrums last spring, but now one or the other or both establishments might just come into being. The trigger event is a new website that’s up and running about Peace Corps House: www.peacecorpshouse.org.

Throughout the centuries, the world is a much better place than it once was. People are wealthier and healthier yet vast inequalities still exist between people and nations. The fight against Polio is an example of this existing global health inequality.

Last week, we held an information session for members who are interested in joining the Board of Directors or just want to learn more about how RPCV/W is run and how they can get involved. This blog post covers some of the topics we discussed.

Happy Pride Month!
Every June, people across the country (and world, quite honestly) gather this month to celebrate the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots - widely considered the single most important event leading up to the modern LGBT rights and liberation movement. During Pride month, I invite you to learn more about the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Association (LGBT RPCV).